Microphone apparatus



Oct. 24, 1961 M. E. LIBSON 3,005,905

MICROPHONE APPARATUS Filed Sept. 25, 1958 United States Patent 3,005,905 MICROPHONE APPARATUS Maurice E. Libson, 416 Crown St., New Haven, Conn. Filed Sept. 25, 1958, Ser. No. 763,330

1 Claim. (Cl. 240-2) This invention relates to microphones of the type utilized by public speakers and the like. More specifically, it per tains to microphone apparatus including means therein for illuminating a reading surface adjacent the microphone.

In recent years, the microphone art has developed to such a degree that highly efficient units can be produced in relatively small sizes. Microphones of this type are most commonly used on rostrums by public speakers,

on tables at hearings or panel discussions, etc., and gen erally by speakers who are appearing before and addressing the public. The diminutive size of the existing microphone is desirable in that it does not interfere with the view of the speaker aflorded the audience he is addressmg.

I have observed that the effect achieved by small microphones, of providing an uninterrupted view of the speaker to his audience, is partially and in many cases completely destroyed by the presence on the rostrum or table in front of him of lights or other apparatus necessary to illuminate notes or other papers from which he is speaking.- In order 'to overcome this problem, it is an object of my invention to provide a microphone apparatus having as an integral part thereof means for illuminating a reading surface adjacent the microphone.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a microphone of such size that it will provide an unobstructed view of the speaker and will illuminate the papers from which he is speaking without distracting the attention of the audience from the speakers face.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a relatively small unitary housing of means for converting sound waves into audio frequency electrical signals and means for illuminating a surface adjacent the housing.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a relatively small housing of a microphone unit and a light for illuminating a surface adjacent the housing, the microphone and light being electrically inter-related to facilitate the selective or simultaneous operation of the same.

It is further an object of the invention to provide a microphone apparatus including lighting means for illuminating a surface adjacent the microphone, which is simple in structure, attractive in appearance, inexpensive to manufacture by quantity production methods and readily operated, serviced in the field by unskilled persons.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specification and claim when considered in connection with the attached sheet of drawings illustrating one form of the invention, wherein like characters represent like parts and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the mircrophone apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational cross-section of a microphone apparatus head according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the microphone apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the microphone apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows 5-5 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the electric circuit which facilitates the selective or simultaneous operation of the microphone unit and light.

Referring now to the drawings for a detailed description of the invention, a microphone apparatus, generally indicated by the numeral 10, is shown to include a base member 11 adapted to be movably supported on a surface such as a rostrum or table, etc. Extending upwardly from the base member is an adjustable standard 12 of any conventional type. In the illustrated form of the invention the standard includes telescoping member 13 and 14 and a locking member 15 which is adapted to retain the members 13 and 14 in adjusted position. Secured to the upper end of standard member 13 by means of a threaded connection is a substantially U-shaped bracket 16 which pivotally supports a microphone head 17 through ins 18. p The microphone head 17, which includes means for converting sound waves into audio frequency electrical signals and lighting means for illuminating the surface on which base 11 is supported, comprises a substantially rectangular block-shaped housing 19 having an open end wall 20 and an open bottom wall 21. A microphone unit 22 for converting sound waves into electrical signals that are transmitted to an amplifier, is mounted within housing 19, in any manner known to the art, to extend along the upper wall thereof to a point adjacent open end wall 20. While any microphone unit commonly known to the art may be embodied in the apparatus of the instant invention, it is contemplated that the unit will be of the type commonly designated a dynamic microphone. Coupling means 23 are provided in the housing, as here shown in the end wall directed away from open end wall 20, for connecting, in a manner well understood by those versed in the art, the microphone unit to an amplifier or similar device (not shown). Leads 23a extend between coupling 23 and the amplifier. It will be understood that any conventional coupling may be utilized in the instant invention. While slip rings and similar devices may be employed, in the illustrating embodiment of the invention a threaded type coupling is shown.

A lighting means 24, which may be an incandescent bulb of any well known construction, is mounted within housing 19 adjacent microphone 22 to overlie open bottom wall 21 and extend substantially the full length thereof. The light, which may conveniently be formed with a screw type or bayonet type base, is connected through a socket housing 25 and conventional electric lead wires 26 to a source of current, not shown. As illustrated in the drawings the lead wires 26 extend outwardly of housing 19 through a port 27 and are insulated from the housing by means of an insulator 28.

Directing our attention again to housing 19, the open bottom wall 21 thereof is closed by means of a light transmissive closure member 29 which is removably connected to the housing. The closure member 29, which may 0onveniently be formed of plastic, glass or similar material having light transmitting characteristics, is substantially U-shaped in cross-section and provided with bottom flanges 29a for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. Housing 19 is provided with inwardly and downwardly extending flanges 19a. In removably connecting closure member 29 to housing 19, an end flange 29a thereof is passed over a bottom wall section 1% of the housing and the sides of the closure are pressed into frictional engagement with the flanges 19a thereof. In this manner the light transmissive closure is retained in position with respect to the housing for covering the light while permitting the light rays to illuminate the reading surface supporting base member 11. The closure 29 is removable from the housing for servicing the light unit therein.

During the operation of the microphone apparatus, as a result of the illuminating means therein being operated, heat is generated in the housing, which may be destructive to microphone unit 22. In order to eliminate this heat and to maintain a relatively cool atmosphere in the housing, louvers 35 or similar venting means are formed in the side walls of the housing between the microphone 22 and light 24. It has been found desirable to form the louvers to extend along the housing substantially the full length of light 24 and of such a size as will facilitate the flow of air through the housing.

With respect to the open end wall 20 of the housing 19, it is closed by a perforated closure plate or cover 39 which is removably secured to the housing. While the closure plate 30 may be formed with integral resilient flanges for frictionally or similarly engaging the walls of the housing, in the illustrated form of the invention the plate is retained in position with respect to the housing, by means of a separate unitary frame member 31 which frictionally grips the housing and supports the plate between portions 31a and 31!) thereof. It will be noted that the leading flange 29a of light transmissive closure 29 is likewise gripped by framelii to further support the same with respect to the housing. It will be understood by those conversant with the microphone art that the perforated plate or closure member 30 is formed to enable the sound wavtm directed toward the microphone head 17 to enter the housing so that they may be converted to audio frequency electrical signals by microphone unit 22,

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 6, a switch unit 32 is illustrated as being mounted within microphone head 17, with the control knob 33 thereof extending outwardly of end wall closure 30. The switch, which may conveniently be a three position, two pole rotary switch, is adapted to selectively or simultaneously operate the microphone unit 22 and light 24. While switch 32 may be connected in the microphone and light circuits in any manner known to the art, in FIG. 6 there is shown one form of circuit which I have found preferable. In the position of switch 32 (shown in solid arrow lines), the circuit between microphone unit 22 and coupling 23 is open as is the circuit between light 24 and the conventional outlet plug 34 which connects it to a source of current (not shown). In this position of the switch both the microphone and light are oif. On rotating switch 32 to the position indicated by dot-dash arrow lines, the circuit a,b,c, is closed and the microphone is operable. It will be observed that, in this position of the switch, the circuit between the light and plug 34 is still open with the result that the light is off while the microphone is operable. Further rotation of switch 32 to the position indicated by dash arrow lines provides closed circuits between the microphone and its coupling (a,b,c) and between the light and its plug (d,e,j). By means of the switch 32 afore-described, the microphone apparatus 10 may be switched from microphone and light off to microphone on or to the microphone and light on, simultaneously.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as aforenoted are achieved and a microphone apparatus is provided which includes means for illuminating a reading surface adjacent thereto. Obviously numerous changes in the structure may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claim.

I claim: v

A device of the character described comprising a housing having an open end wall and bottom wall, a standard connected to said housing for adjustably supporting the same above a surface, a microphone unit mounted in said housing and extending towand said open end for converting sound waves into audio frequency electrical signals, an end wall closure member removably connected to said housing and having perforations adapted to permit the passage of sound waves therethrough, circuit means for connecting said microphone unit to an amplifier, a light mounted in said housing and extending along said open bottom wall for illuminating said surface, a light transmissive bottom wall closure member removably connected to said housing, louver means formed in said housing for dissipating the heat generated by said light, circuit means for connecting said light to a source of current and a switch operably connected between said microphone circuit and light circuit for selectively or simultaneously operating said microphone and light.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,200,554 Wales Oct. 10, 1916 1,552,914 DeForest Sept. 8, 1925 1,999,579 Squier Apr. 30, 1935 2,083,753 Turner June 15, 1937 2,263,668 Woodworth Nov. 25-, 1941 2,512,775 Parissi June 27, 1950 2,748,257 Bennett May 29, 1956 

